The Daily Devotional from The First United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, United States from Monday, 27 February 2017 through Sunday, 5 March 2017 Sermon theme: "The Pursuit" by Reverend Craig Brown with Scripture Text to read: Genesis 3:8-13 for Saturday, 4 March 2017

The Daily Devotional from The First United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, United States from Monday, 27 February 2017 through Sunday, 5 March 2017 Sermon theme: "The Pursuit" by Reverend Craig Brown with Scripture Text to read: Genesis 3:8-13 for Saturday, 4 March 2017

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Scripture Text: Genesis 3:8 They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden. 9 Adonai, God, called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Adonai, God, said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.”[Complete Jewish Bible]

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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Genesis 3:8-13

Verses 8

[8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day - Tis supposed he came in a human shape; in no other similitude than that wherein they had seen him when he put them into paradise; for he came to convince and humble them, not to amaze and terrify them. He came not immediately from heaven in their view as afterwards on mount Sinai, but he came in the garden, as one that was still willing to be familiar with them. He came walking, not riding upon the wings of the wind, but walking deliberately, as one slow to anger. He came in the cool of the day, not in the night, when all fears are doubly fearful; nor did he come suddenly upon them, but they heard his voice at some distance, giving them notice of his coming; and probably it was a still small voice, like that in which he came to enquire after Elijah. And they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God - A sad change! Before they had sinned, if they heard the voice of the Lord God coming towards them, they would have run to meet him, but now God was become a terror to them, and then no marvel they were become a terror to themselves.

Verse 9

[9] And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Where art thou? — This enquiry after Adam may be looked upon as a gracious pursuit in order to his recovery. If God had not called to him to reduce him, his condition had been as desperate as that of fallen angels.

Verse 10

[10] And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

I heard thy voice in the garden: and I was afraid — Adam was afraid because he was naked; not only unarmed, and therefore afraid to contend with God, but unclothed and therefore afraid so much as to appear before him.

Verse 11

[11] And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Who told thee that thou wast naked? — That is, how camest thou to be sensible of thy nakedness as thy shame? Hast thou eaten of the tree? - Tho' God knows all our sins, yet he will know them from us, and requires from us an ingenuous confession of them, not that he may be informed, but that we may be humbled. Whereof I commanded thee not to eat of it, I thy maker, I thy master, I thy benefactor, I commanded thee to the contrary. Sin appears most plain and most sinful in the glass of the commandment.

Verse 13

[13] And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

What is this that thou hast done? — Wilt thou own thy fault? Neither of them does this fully. Adam lays all the blame upon his wife: She gave me of the tree - Nay, he not only lays the blame upon his wife, but tacitly on God himself. The woman thou gavest me, and gavest to be with me as my companion, she gave me of the tree. Eve lays all the blame upon the serpent; the serpent beguiled me. The prisoners being found guilty by their own confession, besides the infallible knowledge of the Judge, and nothing material being offered in arrest of judgment, God immediately proceeds to pass sentence, and in these verses he begins (where the sin began) with the serpent. God did not examine the serpent, nor ask him what he had done, but immediately sentenced him, (1.) Because he was already convicted of rebellion against God. (2.) Because he was to be for ever excluded from pardon; and why should any thing be said to convince and humble him, who was to find no place for repentance?

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Daily Devotional:

Monday, February 27, 2017 Sermon theme: "The Pursuit" Text to read: Genesis 3:8-13 Read the entire text. What do we learn about Adam and Eve?

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Sermon theme: "The Pursuit"

Text to read: Genesis 3:8-13

• How does Adam respond to God in this text?
• What does that tell us?

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Sermon theme: "The Pursuit"

Text to read: Genesis 3:8-13

• How have we been guilty of blaming others for our failings?

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Sermon theme: "The Pursuit"

Text to read: Genesis 3:8-13

• What does “Walk with the Lord” mean to you?
• How does it affect this text from Genesis 3?

Friday, March 3, 2017

Sermon theme: "The Pursuit"

Text to read: Genesis 3:8-13

• Read this text again.
• What is Eve’s perspective on what happened in the garden?

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Sermon theme: "The Pursuit"

Text to read: Genesis 3:8-13

• What is it that destroys a sense of community?
• What does this text tell us about that?

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First Unitted Methodist Church

2111 Camino Del Rio South

San Diego, California 92108, United States

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